Author: claimsbot

1. A solid state DC motor starter having a test capability that will test a plurality of components of the solid state DC motor starter while the motor starter is connected between a power source and a motor that the motor starter actuates, without actuating the motor, comprising:
a main switch for turning the solid state DC motor starter and the motor on and off;
a test circuit in parallel with the main switch, the test circuit comprising;
a current reducing component;
a test switch in series with the current reducing component, wherein the current reducing component maintains the current to the motor windings below a value that will actuate the motor when the test switch is turned on; and
means for monitoring the voltage at an output of the respective plurality of components.
2. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 1 wherein the current reducing component maintains the current to the motor winding to approximately 50 mA or less.
3. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 1 wherein the current reducing component is a resistor of approximately 2,500 ohms.
4. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 1 including a reversing circuit connected between the main switch and the motor, the reversing circuit being responsive to an open input to connect a winding of the motor to the main switch with a first polarity and responsive to a closed input to connect the motor winding to the main switch with a second polarity wherein the reversing circuit cannot be energized unless the main switch is turned on and a signal is received at either the open input or the closed input.
5. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 4 wherein the open input and closed input are interlocked so that a signal cannot be communicated through the open input and the closed input at the same time.
6. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 5 wherein a signal communicated to either the open input or the closed input that is not blocked by the interlock, is latched in an on condition for a predetermined period of time.
7. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 4 wherein if the signal is received at either the open input or the closed input and the main switch is turned on while the test switch is on, the motor will actuate.
8. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 4 including a control logic circuit wherein the control logic circuit assures the signal is received at either the open input or the closed input before the main switch is turned on.
9. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 8 wherein the control logic circuit will turn off the main switch, the open input and the closed input for a predetermined period of time if the signal is received at either the open input or the closed input at a time when the other of the open input or the closed input is on.
10. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 9 wherein the predetermined period of time is sufficient to allow the motor to stop and transients to subside.
11. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 10 wherein following the predetermined period of time the control logic circuit will issue the signal to a one of the open input or the closed input that will cause the motor to reverse its direction from a last actuation and turn on the main switch.
12. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 11 wherein the predetermined period of time is approximately 1 second or longer.
13. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 4 wherein the reversing circuit comprises a plurality of reversing polarity switches and the solid state DC motor starter further includes a control logic circuit wherein the control logic circuit turns off the reversing polarity switches a predetermined interval after the main switch is turned off.
14. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 13 wherein during a test of the main switch the reversing polarity switches are turned off so that current only flows through a shunt winding of the motor so that no motor motion occurs.
15. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 13 wherein the predetermined interval is long enough to allow transients due to inductive current switching to subside before the reversing polarity switches are turned off.
16. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 1 further including:
a delay switch in series with the main switch and in parallel with the test circuit, the delay switch remaining open for a pre-selected period of time when the main switch is first opened;
a resistor in parallel with the delay switch and in series with the main switch for reducing the current through the motor on initial start up of the motor during the pre-selected time the delay switch remains open.
17. The solid state DC motor starter of claim 1 including a snubber circuit in parallel with the main switch.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for producing bipolar plates, the method comprising:
(a) providing an electrically conductive sheet; and
(b) cutting through the sheet to create therein at least one opening for a fluid,
where the cut sheet includes a plurality of elongate parallel oxidant flow openings and where at least one oxidant inlet manifold opening and at least one oxidant outlet manifold opening are located at the ends of the elongate oxidant flow openings and in communication therewith.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two rigid, flat plates.
3. The method according to claim 2, in which the rigid, flat plates each include a non-stick coating.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two parallel rollers.
5. The method according to claim 4, in which the parallel rollers each include a non-stick coating.
6. The method according to claim 1, in which the cutting step is carried out using a die having at least one blade.
7. The method according to claim 6, in which the die has two blades.
8. The method according to claim 7, in which the two blades of the die are located side-by-side.
9. The method according to claim 6, in which the die is a rule die or a flexible die.
10. The method according to claim 1, in which the cut sheet is an oxidant flow field plate.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising a separator plate, wherein the separator plate is located in intimate contact with the oxidant flow field plate.
12. The method according to claim 11, in which the separator plate is a cooling fin separator plate.
13. The method according to claim 1, in which the cut sheet includes a plurality of oxidant inlet manifold openings and a plurality of oxidant outlet manifold openings.
14. The method according to claim 1, in which the electrically conductive sheet is flexible graphite.
15. A method for producing bipolar plates, the method comprising:
(a) providing an electrically conductive sheet; and
(b) cutting through the sheet to create therein at least one opening for a fluid, wherein the cut sheet includes a plurality of elongate parallel fuel flow openings, and wherein the cut sheet includes at least one fuel inlet manifold opening and at least one fuel outlet manifold opening located at the ends of the elongate fuel flow openings and in communication therewith.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two rigid, flat plates.
17. The method according to claim 16, in which the rigid, flat plates each include a non-stick coating.
18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising finishing the cut sheet by pressing it between two parallel rollers.
19. The method according to claim 18, in which the parallel rollers each include a non-stick coating.
20. The method according to claim 15, in which the cutting step is carried out using a die having at least one blade.
21. The method according to claim 20, in which the die has two blades.
22. The method according to claim 21, in which the two blades of the die are located side-by-side.
23. The method according to claim 20, in which the die is a rule die or a flexible die.
24. The method according to claim 15, in which the openings carry a coolant and fuel combination.
25. The method according to claim 24, in which the coolant and fuel combination is an alcohol.
26. The method according to claim 25, in which the alcohol is methanol or ethanol.
27. The method according to claim 26, in which the alcohol is methanol.
28. The method according to claim 15, in which the cut sheet is a fuel flow field plate.
29. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a separator plate.
30. The method according to claim 29, in which the separator plate is a cooling fin separator plate.
31. The method according to claim 15, in which the electrically conductive sheet is flexible graphite.

1-14. (canceled)
15. A process for replacing salt in a composition comprising substituting all or part of the salt in the composition by vinegar or an equivalent thereof.
16. The process according to claim 15, wherein the composition is chosen among food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, functional food, nutraceutical and veterinary compositions or an intermediate composition which is part of the constitution of these compositions.
17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the intermediate product is a flour or a mix of flours.
18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the intermediate alimentary product is a bakery product such as bread or Viennese pastry.
19. The process according to claim 15, wherein the vinegar is wine or cider vinegar, or more generally fruit, cereal, malt, rice, corn, milk, or other vinegars.
20. The process according to claim 15, wherein the vinegar has an acidity dose approximately between 3 to 10% acidity.
21. The process according to claim 15, wherein the vinegar equivalent is a product with a strong acidity, except for acetic acid concentrated at more than about 50%.
22. The process according to claim 15, wherein vinegar or one of its equivalents is in a liquid or a solid form, for example in a dried powder form when for instance it concerns a dehydrated product.
23. The process according to claim 15, wherein vinegar or one of its equivalents is in a free dehydrated form or a dehydrated form associated to a food support like flour or maltodextrine for instance.
24. The process according to claim 15, wherein in a composition based on flour, vinegar or an equivalent of vinegar in a liquid form is used to replace all or part of the salt at the rate of 0.2% to 5% of flour weight, that is in the order of 2 to 50 g per flour kg and in the case of vinegar or an equivalent of it in dehydrated form, it is used at the rate of 1 liter for about 95 g of flour, that is in the order of 0.05 to 5% of flour weight, that is again in the order of 0.5 to 50 g per flour kilo.
25. The process according to claim 15, wherein vinegar or one of its equivalents replaces at least 60% of the salt quantity contained in the composition while conserving this composition’s gustative value.
26. A composition, notably a food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, functional food, nutraceutical or veterinary composition or an intermediate composition which is part of the constitution of these compositions, the composition comprising or has been produced with vinegar as a substitute for all or part of the salt generally present in it.
27. The composition according to claim 26, wherein the composition comprises flour associated in the composition with dehydrated vinegar or an equivalent of it.
28. The composition according to claim 26, wherein the composition is a brine used for delicatessen and meats conservation.
29. The process according to claim 15, further comprising using the composition as a brine for delicatessen and meats conservation.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. In a handle set for a lock with a latch, the handle set being for a door that is between an interior handle and an exterior handle of the handle set, the door having a central plane, the improvement wherein:
a coupling apparatus selectively couples the exterior handle to the latch, the coupling apparatus including an actuator and being activated by a non-contact signal from a transponder; and
an authenticator circuit authenticates the signal from the transponder and controls the actuator;
wherein the authenticator circuit and the actuator are positioned on an interior side of the central plane of the door and at least partially housed in the interior handle.
2. The handle set of claim 1, wherein the coupling apparatus comprises a force transfer member and an outer coupling member, wherein the force transfer member and outer coupling member are coupled via camming blocks in such a manner that a movement of the force transfer member causes a movement of the camming blocks, wherein said movement of the force transfer member is not transferred through the camming blocks to the outer coupling member in a decoupled state and is transferred through the camming blocks to the outer coupling member in a coupled state.
3. The handle set of claim 2, wherein a blocking element can be positioned between the camming blocks in the coupled state, the blocking element preventing the camming blocks from giving way and thus coupling the force transfer member with the outer coupling member in the coupled state, and wherein the blocking element moves out of the way of the camming blocks in the decoupled state.
4. The handle set of claim 3, wherein the outer coupling member includes a plurality of spring ramps and the camming blocks are each biased by a camming spring against one spring ramp, wherein a force exerted on each camming block by one of the spring ramps overcomes an opposite force exerted on each camming block by one camming spring to prevent each camming block from engaging a wall of the outer coupling member in the decoupled state.
5. The handle set of claim 4, wherein in the coupled state the blocking element prevents the camming blocks from being forced by the spring ramps away from the wall of the outer coupling member to allow the camming blocks to engage the wall of the outer coupling member, wherein the camming blocks can transfer torque to the outer coupling member when engaging the wall of the outer coupling member.
6. The handle set of claim 5, wherein the coupling apparatus comprises an actuator to change the coupling state of the coupling apparatus, wherein the actuator comprises one of a permanent magnet, an electromagnet, an electromotor, a solenoid, a piezo-element, and a shape memory alloy.
7. The handle set of claim 6, wherein the actuator actuates the blocking element to move to a position between the camming blocks in the coupled state.
8. The handle set of claim 7, wherein force is not transferred from the camming blocks to the actuator.
9. The handle set of claim 1, wherein the authenticator circuit comprises a processor, a memory, a transmitter, a receiver and a power supply, the authenticator circuit comparing the non-contact signal to data stored in the memory to determine if the non-contact signal is authorized to control the handle set and controlling the actuator to change the coupling apparatus between a uncoupled state and a coupled state when the non-contact signal is authorized to control the handle set.
10. The handle set of claim 9, wherein authenticator circuit includes an antenna positioned within the interior handle.
11. The handle set of claim 9, wherein the authenticator circuit includes an antenna located within one of the exterior handle and an exterior rose of the handle set, the antenna connected to the processor by a line and configured to communicate with one of passive transponders and active transponders.
12. The handle set of claim 1, further comprising a biometric fingerprint sensing unit, wherein the authenticator circuit controls the actuator to actuate the coupling apparatus between an uncoupled and a coupled state when the biometric fingerprint sensing unit senses an authorized fingerprint.
13. The handle set of claim 12, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensing unit is positioned within the exterior handle, the biometric fingerprint sensing unit comprising a processor, a memory, and a transmitter, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensing unit is configured to send a wireless authorization signal to the authenticator circuit when the when the biometric fingerprint sensing unit senses an authorized fingerprint.
14. The handle set of claim 12, wherein the wherein the biometric fingerprint sensing unit is positioned within the exterior handle, the biometric fingerprint sensing unit comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the biometric fingerprint sensing unit is connected by a line to the authenticator circuit.
15. The handle set of claim 1, wherein the authenticator circuit can be programmed via a wireless connection from a programming device and wherein data stored in the authenticator circuit can be communicated to the programming device.
16. The handle set of claim 15, wherein the authenticator circuit can be programmed to control the coupling apparatus to temporarily switch between coupled and decoupled states, permanently switch between coupled and decoupled states, and automatically switch between coupled and decoupled states at predetermined times.
17. The handle set of claim 1, wherein a credential request signal is transmitted upon operation of the exterior handle, the transponder providing a credential signal upon receiving the credential request signal.
18. The handle set of claim 17, wherein the exterior handle includes a proximity sensor that senses operation of the exterior handle and triggers the transmission of the credential request signal.
19. The handle set of claim 1, wherein the handle set is configured to be handed.
20. Electronic door locking and lever assembly comprising:
an exterior handle and an interior handle positioned on opposite sides of a door, the exterior and interior handles linked with a coupling apparatus to actuate a latch member for opening the door from the inside and the outside, respectively, the coupling apparatus comprising a drive and a take-off, the take-off comprising a latch actuator to actuate the latch member;
an access control device which in response to an authorized wireless signal from an authorization device actuates the coupling apparatus so that the coupling apparatus can be changed between a coupled and decoupled state; and
a coupling element which is linked to the take-off and the interior handle,
wherein when the coupling apparatus is in a coupled state, the drive is coupled to the take-off wherein a movement of the exterior handle can be transmitted from the drive to the take-off to actuate the latch member to open the door;
wherein when the coupling apparatus is in a decoupled state, the drive is decoupled from the take-off so that a movement of the exterior handle does not operate the take-off to actuate the latch member to open the door;
wherein when the interior handle is moved, the movement is transmitted to the coupling element which moves the take-off so that the latch member can be operated when the coupling apparatus is in a coupled or decoupled state;
wherein the drive is coupled to the take-off by at least one camming block that transmits torque from the drive to the take-off when the camming block is blocked by a blocking element in the coupled state, and the blocking element is moved out of the way of the camming block in the decoupled state so that the camming block does not exert torque between the drive and the take-off.
21. The electronic door locking and lever assembly according to claim 20, wherein there are at least two camming blocks, the blocking element moved between the camming blocks in the coupled state and is compressed by the camming blocks in the coupled state.
22. The electronic door locking and lever assembly according to claim 21, wherein the drive and take-off are coupled via the camming blocks in such a manner that in the decoupled state a rotational movement of the drive causes radial movement of the camming blocks and does not cause rotary movement of the take-off, and that in a coupled state a rotational movement of the drive causes rotary movement of the camming blocks and take-off.
23. The electronic door locking and lever assembly according to claim 22, wherein the access control device comprises an actuator to change the coupling state of the coupling apparatus, wherein the actuator actuates the blocking element to move the coupling apparatus in a coupled state.
24. The electronic door locking and lever assembly according to claim 23, wherein the blocking element and actuator are rotary levers.
25. The electronic door locking and lever assembly according to claim 24, wherein the blocking element is biased to the coupled state and the actuator is biased to the decoupled state.
26. The electronic door locking and lever assembly according to claim 25, further comprising a security apparatus that prevents the blocking element from being moved in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field.